While Russia wants to become a member of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), it currently holds "observer" status. I've always believed that Russia's membership in the OIC would be positive. Russia claims its Muslim population is larger than many OIC member Muslim countries. That is certainly true.
But when we look at the status of Muslims in Russia, we see that life is tough. We hear claims that the Muslim existence in the country is under threat. Most recently many important Muslim figures, including Nafigulla Ashirov, the chief mufti of the Asian part of Russia, submitted a letter to Putin. The letter was published in Izbestia Newspaper on March 5, 2007. The letter was also signed by: the Russian Mufti Council President Mukaddes Bibersov, Makhachkalian Imam's Council President Muhammedresul Saaduyev, Parliamentarian Shamil Sultanov, Sobrainie Muslim Association representative Muhammed Salahetdinov, Council of Islam President Geydar Cemal and Presidential Advisor Denga Halidov, Timur Pulatov, Aslanbek Ejayev, president of the Department of Religious Affairs in Tumen, Fatih Garfifullin, and 3,000 others from 10 different regions of the Russian Federation.
The letter was intended to remind Putin of his statement that, "Russia is Islam's biggest protector and will always remain that way," and that recent developments were not in line with this statement. Take for example, the unfair arrest of Imam Anton Stepanenko in Pyatigosky. Stepanenko was convicted of trying to teach Islam to non-Muslims. In other words, the imam was arrested for employing his religious and free speech rights and he was pressured and abused during his interrogation. Eyewitnesses also said they were pressured during their testimony in court.
It is the basic right of people to choose which religion they want to practice. To invite non-Muslims to Islam, without compulsion, is a major duty for all Muslims. If Russia takes pride in its 20 million Muslim population and its recognition of Islam as the second official religion of the country, than it can not treat any Imam, or any Muslim for that matter, in that way.
It is possible to say that oppressive methods and law violations are used by local administrations rather than the state. There are those who believe in global Islamophobia and associate Islam with terrorism. These people appeal to the Russian government to take severe measures against Muslims. During a press conference last year, a journalist said, "Terrorists find it easy to engage Russian Muslims in their activities." Putin responded by saying: "Muslims in Russia are not foreigners or immigrants. They are Russian and citizens by birth that have the same rights."
While anti-Muslim circles continue to press for precautionary measures against the Muslim community, they've also appealed to courts to ban the books of Said Nursi, the greatest Muslim philosopher of the past century. They claim Said Nursi's books called the Risaleler encourage hostility based on religion. A case has been opened to investigate the claim. The new administration in Astrahan has decided to collapse a mosque in the town that was built with the approval of the mayor and governor.
The letter also recalled Putin's statement that "Russia will not have a Guantanamo," and stated that Muslims do not expect special treatment, benefits or a dominant status, but rather a Russia that abides by the Constitution, and which has religious diversity and freedom as its basic principle.
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